Digitalis plant named ‘WALDIGONE’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  DIGITALIS  plant named “WALDIGONE” that is characterized by short, upright, multi-stemmed habit, dense and bushy plant form and flowers which are colored yellow with tinges of orange and red and whose lower lip petal projects approximately 6 mm beyond the other petals. In combination these traits set ‘WALDIGONE’ apart from all other existing varieties of  DIGITALIS  known to the inventor.

Genus: DIGITALIS.

Species: obscura×ambigua.

Denomination: ‘WALDIGONE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDigitalis plant, commonly known as foxglove and botanically known asDigitalis obscura×Digitalis ambigua, and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘WALDIGONE’.

‘WALDIGONE’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theInventor in Walberton, Sussex, United Kingdom. The objective of thebreeding program was to create free-flowering new Digitalis cultivarswith numerous flowers with attractive coloration.

‘WALDIGONE’ originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in2001 of the species Digitalis obscura as the female, or seed, parent andDigitalis ambigua as the male, or pollen, parent. ‘WALDIGONE’ wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor in 2003 as a single floweringplant in a controlled environment in Walberton, Sussex, United Kingdom.

Plants of ‘WALDIGONE’ can be compared to the female parent, Digitalisobscura as follows: Compared to plants of the female parent, Digitalisobscura, plants of ‘WALDIGONE’ have broader leaves, and flowers whichare more yellow in color.

Plants of ‘WALDIGONE’ can be compared to the male parent, Digitalisambigua, as having narrower and more glabrous leaves and flowers whichare more orange in color.

Plants of ‘ WALDIGONE’ can be compared to plants of the Digitaliscultivar ‘Spice Island’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,849) as follows: Plantsof ‘WALDIGONE’ differ primarily from plants of ‘Spice Island’ in beingless tall and quicker to come into flower. In addition, flowers of‘Spice Island’ have much longer sepals and more projecting lower lipsthan flowers of WALDIGONE.

Asexual reproduction of ‘WALDIGONE’ was first accomplished by theinventor in 2003, using the method of tissue culture. Since that time,the distinguishing features of ‘WALDIGONE’ have been found to be arestable and to reproduce true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘WALDIGONE’. These traits in combination distinguishthis cultivar from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor.‘WALDIGONE’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   -   1. Plants if ‘WALDIGONE’ exhibit short, upright, multi-stemmed        habit.    -   2. Plants if ‘WALDIGONE’ exhibit short internodes and a dense        and bushy plant form.    -   3. The flowers of ‘WALDIGONE’ are colored yellow flowers with        tinges of orange and red.    -   4. The lower lip petal of a flower of WALDIGONE' projects        approximately 6 mm beyond the other petals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of‘WALDIGONE’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings maydiffer slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which accurately describe the actual colors of ‘WALDIGONE’.

The illustrated plants have been grown in 1.5-litre container plants andare approximately one and a half years old. The plants have been grownout of doors in Walberton, Sussex, United Kingdom.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts flowering plants of ‘WALDIGONE’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a typical flowerraceme of ‘WALDIGONE’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘WALDIGONE’.Data was collected by the inventor in spring and summer from 1.5-litrecontainer plants in spring which were approximately one and a half yearsold. The plants have been grown out of doors in Walberton, Sussex,United Kingdom. The color determinations are in accordance with the 1966Edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Genus, species: Digitalis    obscura×Digitalis ambigua. Denomination: ‘WALDIGONE’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Digitalis obscura.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Digitalis ambigua.-   Propagation method: Tissue culture.-   Root description: Fine; freely branching.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of ‘WALDIGONE’ have not been noted    to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Digitalis.-   Hardiness: Plants of ‘WALDIGONE’ have been observed to be hardy to    USDA Zone 5.-   Plant description:-   Form: Perennial. Upright growing and compact plant habit.-   Branching: Freely basal branching with about five to ten flowering    stems per plant.-   Habit: Dense and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth    habit.-   Flowering: Up to 30 flowers arranged on crowded terminal raceme.-   Plant height: Ranges between 45 cm and 60 cm.-   Plant width: Ranges between 20 cm and 30 cm.-   Stem description:    -   -   Length (excluding inflorescence).—20 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm–5 mm.        -   Internode length.—2 cm–3 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.            Aspect.—Erect.            Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.            Color.—144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Quantity per stem.—5–10.        -   Length.—5 cm to 15 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Clasping stem.        -   Margin.—Simple or very slightly serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Closest to 137B.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Closest to 137C. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Closest to 139A. Fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: 138A. Venation, upper            surface: 137A. Venation, lower surface: 138B.        -   Petiole.—None. Leaves sessile, stem-clasping.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single bilabiate campanulate            flowers closely spaced, about 1 cm apart, on upright            terminal racemes; flowers face mostly outward and tend            towards one side. Freely flowering habit, about 15–30            flowers per raceme.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering during the            summer (June through July) in the United Kingdom.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about            ten days on or off the plant. Flowers not persistent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Color.—Upper surface 164B, lower surface 160A.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 cm.-   Flowers:    -   -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Campanulate; five petals fused, bottom one            forming projecting lower lip.        -   Shape.—Fused to become campanulate.        -   Length, upper petals.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Length, lower lip petal.—About 3 cm–3.5 cm.        -   Width, lower lip petal.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Apex, lower lip petal.—Cuspidate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Outer surface pubescent, inner surface hirsute.        -   Color.—Upper petals: When opening, upper surface: 20B            blushed with about 173B. When opening, lower surface: 11A.            Fully opened, upper surface: 20B, venation close to 173B.            Fully opened, lower surface: 11A Lower lip petal: When            opening, upper surface 11A, lower surface 11B. Fully opened,            upper surface: 21A; venation 173B. Fully opened, lower            surface: 20B; venation close to 173B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement/quantity per flower.—Five, not fused.        -   Length.—About 6 mm.        -   Width.—About 2 mm–3 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to narrowly triangular.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color, upper and lower surfaces.—137D.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—About 3 cm–6 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm–5 mm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—144B.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—About 5 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—137D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Four.        -   Filament length.—About 1 cm.        -   Filament color.—20C.        -   Anther shape.—Reniform.        -   Anther length.—About 2 mm.        -   Anther color.—20B.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—20D.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One.        -   Pistil length.—About 2 cm.        -   Stigma color.—20D.        -   Style length.—About 1 cm.        -   Style color.—20D.        -   Ovary color.—144A.        -   Fruit/seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of DIGITALIS plant named ‘WALDIGONE’ as described and illustrated herein. 